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Aussies take control of first test

Australia keep their stranglehold on the first Test on day two, after Steve Smith declared at 4/556 and the hosts tore through New Zealand's top order.

Cricket Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board are in the early stages of drawing up a schedule for the three-Test series but The Tonk can confirm a day-night Test is on the agenda. Adelaide is the early favourite to host the game.

More will be known after this month's historic Test in Adelaide, but it would be a major shock if CA were to give up on the day-night concept after just one game.

Under lights: Could this be the scene for Australia and Pakistan next summer? Photo: Getty Images

CA is tight-lipped on next summer's international fixture.

"We're in the very early stages of working through our 2016-17 home schedule," a CA spokesman said. "At this point, we aren't in a position to comment on specific details."

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The PCB are in favour of day-night Tests. They play in front of near empty stadiums in the UAE as locals are unable to attend due to work but draw decent crowds for their limited-overs games at night.

SILENCE IS GOLDEN FOR HADLEE

Sir Richard Hadlee believes the effect of sledging is overrated, saying bowlers can have just as much presence by staying silent.

The legendary Kiwi quick was not known for his on-field chat, preferring instead to let the ball do the talking.

"I remember Greg Matthews saying to me Hadlee was the most intimidating bowler he had faced because I said nothing," Hadlee said on ABC Grandstand.

"But he knew I had a presence there because I'd be in his face with a wink nod or glare or even turn my back and get to my bowling mark.

"That intimidation is more low key than physically being there and sledging and saying things which can be overdone in the game."

New Zealand's Richard Hadlee in action during his man of the match performance in the opening Australia-New Zealand Test at the Gabba in 1985.

HAPPY MEMORIES

It's been 30 years since Sir Richard Hadlee routed Australia at the Gabba, but he still loves telling stories from that day. And we're tipping his favourite yarn is his wicket of Greg Matthews, which he describes as a "classic dismissal".

"He only faced four balls and did well to score nought," Hadlee said. "In fact, I wasted three of them to be honest."

Well, not entirely. One of those three rattled into Matthews' groin, causing the larrikin offie no end of discomfort, but much glee for Hadlee.

"I could see some damage had been done because the eyes stared to roll a little bit, he jumped around, he started touching and scratching that area, there was a lot of pain he was suffering," Hadlee said.

"That was the third ball and next ball I knocked his middle stump out of the ground so that gave me a great deal of pleasure, I can assure you.

"He did say it was a good nut."

SMITH BACK ON TOP

Steve Smith's run of five consecutive first-innings Test tons at home was broken this week, but it has not stopped the Australian captain from returning to the top of the world batting rankings.

Smith toppled Joe Root, who despite averaging 57 against Pakistan in the UAE slipped to third. South African A.B. de Villiers moves to second.

But Australia have lost their No.2 Test rankings to Pakistan, who completed a 2-0 series victory over England this week.

BAGGY BLUES BOYS BACK

The home dressing room in the old SCG Members stand was packed on Friday when the "Baggy Blues", the brotherhood of past and present NSW players, met after stumps in the Shield match against Victoria.

Legends including Lenny Pascoe, Gordon Rorke and Doug Walters were at home in familiar surroundings, chatting to Pat Cummins, Gurinder Sandhu and Moises Henriques.

The Baggy Blues has been likened to the "RSL of cricket" and Rorke, who represented Australia in 1959, was heard extolling the virtues of the concept to Cricket NSW chairman John Warn and chief executive Andrew Jones. There was a moving presentation of special NSW blazers to the seven.

NSW opener Ryan Carters and a star-studded group of his mates should teach the Barker College First XI a few lessons about life when they play a Twenty20 match at the College's Main Oval at Waitara this Wednesday – and cricket is the least of them.

Carters, who founded the Batting For Change [BFC] Foundation in conjunction with the renowned LBW Trust, raises funds to provide educational opportunities in the Third World.

He's created a BFC XI to play exhibition matches around the nation and the Barker kids will take strike against Carters, Nic Maddinson, Ed Cowan, Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry and former NRL internationals Brett Kimmorley and Matt Cooper. "I hope it'll be a learning experience in a number of ways for the students," Carters said.

"They'll get to play in front of what will probably be a bigger crowd than they have before, they'll have the pressure of playing against some well-known names and learn how some more high-profile cricketers are using cricket to make a difference to the world." There will be live music, great food and it starts on Wednesday at 3.30pm. For more information on Batting For Change visit battingforchange.com.au

HADDIN'S LOOK DAMPENED

Retired wicketkeeper Brad Haddin attended day one of the Sheffield Shield match between NSW and Victoria hoping for a glimpse of Blues debutant Jay Lenton, but all he saw was rain, rain and a thunderstorm. Haddin, who'll play for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL, has a high opinion of the 25-year-old.

"I remember seeing him play in a first grade game [ages ago] and I was impressed with how good his hands were and how he stood up to the stumps to spinners and medium pacers. I like that he got into the team the old-fashioned way – he scored three hundreds in a row.

"That says he realised there was going to be a spot for a wicketkeeper [with Peter Nevill in the Test team] and put his hand up."